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Hare seeking more H1N1 vaccine for Rock Island County
Originally Posted Online: Nov. 02, 2009, 11:45 am
Last Updated: Nov. 02, 2009, 9:19 pm
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Print this story | Email this storyLast Updated: Nov. 02, 2009, 9:19 pm
By Nicole Lauer, nlauer@qconline.com
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After a briefing on Rock Island County's response to H1N1, Rep. Phil Hare, D-Ill., said he's doing his best to ensure vaccines get where they need to be. Rep. Hare met briefly with health department officials to gauge the county's vaccine availability and distribution efforts before addressing media Monday morning. Rep. Hare said he is doing his utmost to ensure the requested H1N1 vaccines get to RockIsland County quickly. "I'll do everything I can to get you as much as I can and as quickly as I can," he said. He said he plans to write a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, call Gov. Pat Quinn and reach out to many others to speed up the disbursement of vaccines. Wendy Trute, Rock Island County public health administrator, said the health department received its lone shipment of 7,500 vaccines a week and a half ago. Ms. Trute said that's 10,000 fewer than the county requested. The limited supplies mean the health department expects its remaining vaccine appointments filled by early afternoon today, Nov. 2. An additional 280 appointment slots have been added by the health department for 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. for Nov. 4 and 6, for priority groups. Rep. Hare is hopeful an increase in the number of vaccine producers will remedy the vaccination shortage. Rep. Hare stressed that misidentifying H1N1 as "swine flu" is bad for pork producers. He said some people continue to mistakenly link the illness with pork products. "The pork producers have really taken an economic hammering," Rep. Hare said. Rep. Hare urged employers to be more flexible in granting sick leave to people with flu symptoms. He said his office is receiving phone calls from sick people -- some of whom are food service workers -- who are hesitant or unable to take the needed time off of work. Rock Island County Health Department recognized Stern Beverage and A.D. Huesing for providing additional refrigeration equipment for vaccine storage. They also thanked the many volunteers who are working to assist in the vaccine clinics. 
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